Resume Keywords: The Complete Guide
Learn how to identify, extract, and strategically place keywords that get your resume noticed.
Why Keywords Matter More Than Ever
Studies show that 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human ever sees them. The primary reason? Missing keywords. But here's the nuance most job seekers miss: it's not about cramming in as many keywords as possible. It's about strategic placement of the right keywords in the right context.
The 4 Types of Resume Keywords
Not all keywords are created equal. Understanding the different categories helps you ensure comprehensive coverage in your resume.
Hard Skills
Technical abilities and tools you can demonstrate
Soft Skills
Interpersonal and transferable abilities
Industry Terms
Jargon specific to your field
Certifications & Credentials
Official qualifications and training
How to Extract Keywords from Job Descriptions
Job descriptions are goldmines of keywords—if you know how to mine them. Here's a systematic approach.
- 1
Read the job description 3 times
First for overall understanding, second for required skills, third for preferred qualifications and cultural hints.
- 2
Highlight repeated words
If a term appears multiple times in the job posting, it's likely a priority keyword the ATS is scanning for.
- 3
Check the company's careers page
Look at similar roles and the company's values page to find consistent terminology they use.
- 4
Research LinkedIn profiles
Look at profiles of people in similar roles at the company to see what keywords they use.
- 5
Use the exact phrasing
If the job says 'project management' don't just write 'managed projects' - use their exact terminology.
Strategic Keyword Placement
Where you place keywords matters almost as much as which keywords you use. ATS systems often weight certain sections more heavily.
High-Impact Placement Zones
- Professional Summary
Most ATS weight; first thing recruiters read
- Skills Section
Direct keyword matching; easy to scan
- Job Titles
High visibility; establishes relevance immediately
- First Bullet of Each Role
Sets the tone; most likely to be read
- Certifications Section
Exact match potential; validates expertise
The key is natural integration. Your keywords should flow within compelling achievement statements:
❌ Weak Keyword Usage
"Responsible for project management. Used Agile. Did data analysis."
✓ Strong Keyword Integration
"Led cross-functional project management initiatives using Agile methodology, leveraging data analysis to reduce delivery time by 30%."
4 Common Keyword Mistakes to Avoid
Keyword stuffing
Why it hurts: Repeating keywords unnaturally makes your resume unreadable and sophisticated ATS systems can detect it.
Use keywords naturally within context of your achievements.
Using only acronyms OR only full terms
Why it hurts: ATS might search for 'Search Engine Optimization' while you only wrote 'SEO'.
Include both versions: 'Search Engine Optimization (SEO)'
Ignoring the skills section
Why it hurts: Many ATS systems scan dedicated skills sections first for quick filtering.
Create a prominent skills section with your most relevant keywords.
Generic action verbs
Why it hurts: 'Helped' and 'worked on' don't differentiate you or match specific searches.
Use powerful, specific verbs: 'orchestrated,' 'implemented,' 'optimized,' 'spearheaded'
Your Keyword Action Plan
Keywords aren't about gaming the system. They're about speaking the employer's language.
- Analyze 3-5 similar job postings to identify consistent keywords
- Create a master keyword list organized by category
- Customize your resume for each application
- Use our comparison tool to check your match score
What's Next?
Resume Tailoring Guide
Learn how to customize your resume for every application
ATS Myths vs Reality
Debunk the most common misconceptions about ATS
Ready to Optimize Your Keywords?
Upload your resume and a job description. LR-AI shows exactly which keywords you're missing.